I know how annoying it is to read a long author's note in the beginning so I'll leave it till the end so you can skip if you're not interested. And I might also update my profile as well. Anyway, Happy Halloween to everyone out there and now onto the story.

Rex vs. Pumpkin Slush

"A store promotion?" Rex looked incredulously at his boss Lenny.

"Yup! On Halloween we have half off our pumpkin slushies!" He announced proudly.

"Who drinks pumpkin slushies?" Rex asked.

"Listen people will drink anything that's on sale." Lenny said sagely.

"So that's how we're going to get rid of this weird flavor." Rex was catching on before he realized what this meant. "I'm working on Halloween, aren't I?"

"Yup." Lenny agreed.

"What about Sven?" Rex asked about the other employee.

"He'll be here, too." Lenny said. "If my hunch is right, it's going to be a profitable day!"

"I'm not sure pumpkin slush is going to be a big seller." Rex said dubiously.

"Don't worry, we'll be giving candy to the kids and once they're in, you give them the hard sell." Lenny explained.

"What hard sell? It's pumpkin Slush. Who would want to drink that?" Rex was starting to get nervous.

"That's a you problem." Lenny told him.

Rex groaned internally.

0o0

"Working on Halloween day? What about the party?" Noah asked. He had been working on his term paper at the library until Rex appeared. Claire was keeping him company studying for her Psychology midterm.

"The shop closes by 8. I should have time to drop by before it ends at 11." Rex said confidently as he leaned back in his seat.

"You're not going to have time to change into a costume if you're going across town." Claire pointed out.

"He doesn't need a costume. His work uniform is plenty scary." Noah chuckled.

"Shut up. I'll be wearing a costume for work anyway." Rex snapped.

"I heard you'll be handing out free candy. Kids will be flocking to the store. It'll probably get messy." Claire warned.

"Don't worry. Kids love me." Rex smiled smugly.

"It's not the kids that you should be worried about." Claire said ominously.

"Parents? Parents love me too." Rex waved his hand dismissively.

Claire gave a noncommittal grunt.

"Well, I'm done with my paper. Let's get some tacos." Noah said slamming his laptop shut.

"Ah, now you're speaking my language." Rex grinned as he got up. "You're paying."

"What? I paid last time. And you're working, you mooch." Noah growled as he chased after his friend. Claire shook her head as she gathered her books.

0o0

"Trick or treat!" A chorus of kids yelled as they held out their bags.

"Happy Halloween ghouls and gals!" Rex greeted as he handed out the cheap gumballs. "Would you like to try our limited edition pumpkin slush? It's half off today only!"

"Eww, no thanks." The parent with the group wrinkled his nose.

"I'm all for pumpkin flavors but not in a slushie." Another parent said.

"I'm on a diet."

"That sounds gross."

"I can't stand pumpkin."

It was like that all day. Rex was started to worry when it was three hours before closing and not a single pumpkin slush was sold.

"Rex, are you trying to sell this?" Lenny asked angrily when he dropped by to check on them.

"Seriously, no one's interested in pumpkin. We sold a whole bunch of other…" Rex explained.

"No more excuses. You better move at least half of these slush before closing time." Lenny said.

"Or else what?" Rex challenged.

"Or else I make you work next weekend." Lenny threatened.

"I can't! I have things to do!" Rex protested.

"Then start selling." Lenny left.

Rex groaned. He checked the clock. How was he supposed to get people to buy the weird slush?

Noah, Claire, and Circe walked in. They were in their costumes.

"Heading out to the party?" Rex grinned at his friends. The girls waved at him before going to the counter to order their slush.

"Yup. How's the pumpkin slush selling?" Noah asked.

Rex made a face. "Yeah, it's not. I mean I could have told him that. No one even wants to try it."

"Did you give them free samples?" Circe walked over.

"Uh… no?" Rex paused.

"That's a good idea. I bet if you gave out free samples people could at least try and see if they liked it." Claire agreed.

Rex thought for a moment. "Right, why didn't I think of that?"

"Because it's you?" Noah suggested.

Rex made a face at him before rushing to the counter. Sven filled several small trial size cups and placed them on the tray. Running outside he began handing them out. A bunch of college students passing by surrounded Rex. After trying some they walked into the shop.

"I bet you can't finish an extra supersize one." One boy said to another.

"Yeah, well, I bet you can't finish one." The other replied.

"I bet I can out drink all of you." Another boasted.

They argued as they approached the counter. Rex ran in to check on them.

"Wow, they're really buying a lot of pumpkin slush," Noah observed.

"Yeah," Rex smirked.

"What did you do?" Circe eyed him suspiciously.

"Nothing. I just said that I bet they couldn't finish a whole pumpkin slush." He said innocently.

"Sneaky, appealing to their male egos." Claire approved.

"Hey, his head is big enough. You don't have to make it any bigger." Noah protested. "I mean Circe's the one to suggest giving out samples."

"But I improved on it." Rex said proudly.

"We need to head out before we're late." Claire nudged Noah.

"Sure, let's go." Noah agreed.

"See you later Rex." They waved as the left the store.

Rex looked at the boys at the counter and grinned.

0o0

"If Rex doesn't show up soon, he's going to miss the whole thing." Circe checked the time. They stood on a lawn outside a brightly lit house with music pumping out the windows.

Just as she finished talking, a huge gust of wind made them all flinch. Rex with his Boogie Pack landed in the middle of the lawn.

"Hey, I'm here! Let the real party start!" He grinned as he pulled up his goggles.

"You mean let the party start winding down." Noah smirked.

"How did it go?" Claire asked.

"We sold almost all the pumpkin slush. Man, once those frat boys got started it got wild. That's why I'm a little late. I had to throw them all out." Rex said.

"Hmm, I think you owe Circe a thank you?" Claire hinted.

Circe was about to note that it wasn't necessary froze when Rex wrapped his arm around her waist.

"That was a good idea. Thanks." He hugged her tightly. Circe blushed.

"Aww, Rex that's so…"

"And I really improved on it. I'm such a genius!" Rex said proudly.

"And he ruined it." Claire groaned.

"What?" Rex asked. "I mean how else can you get rid of pumpkin slush?"

"Pour it down the drain." Noah suggested.

"And how would I make money?" Rex argued.

The boys bickered back and forth.

"Come on guys. Let's enjoy the rest of the party… and Rex what the heck are you wearing?" Circe pulled Rex to the house.

"This? I'm coolest guy ever." Rex smiled.

Everyone rolled their eyes but laughed as walked together to the house.

Rex:1 Pumpkin Slush:0

Rex got a win. Yay!

Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know why I haven't been on for a while and why I haven't even been reading anyone's fan fiction lately either. I'm sorry. It's been tough. Most of my free time has been spent taking care of my parents. If I want to sound overly dramatic, I'm watching my parents' health slowly deteriorate. Even tonight my dad fell down the stairs and is in the emergency room with my sister. I'm not sure if he's ok, but they are taking their sweet time with the scans so that must mean they don't think he's in any danger, right? This has made me late with the update of this story. Sorry if it's rushed. I'm trying to update at least on the holidays, but I can't promise anything going forward. I have stories I'm working on in my head but there's no time to write them down. I'm stressed but it's ok. I promise to finish any stories that need an ending, and I won't be starting any long chapter stories anytime soon. I appreciate everyone who's been sticking with me. I appreciate those of you who have wished me well in PM's. You guys are all great. Thank you for keeping this fandom alive and unless something terrible happens, I will return. Peace!